His latest fiction revolves round the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai and the yet undiscovered RDX stash, post the 1993 blasts. As the journalist and writer avatars of S. Hussain Zaidi meet, the result is a riveting crime thriller — Eleventh Hour. Here’s what the author has to say about his new release… 

What inspired you to write Eleventh Hour?

The idea of this book was inside me for a long time but I wasn’t getting enough time to write it down, given other ongoing commitments. But I had to write it eventually, as the story is also of topical relevance. While the tale of Pakistan’s alleged attempts to usurp Indian territory is an old one, no one out there knows about which corners of India are being eyed by Pakistan, so to say, or what ploy would be used to that end. Lakshadweep is one such area. It has a sizeable Muslim population and has been on Pakistan’s radar for some time. Information such as this, and the tragic non-resolution of events such as the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, despite there being an overt agreement between the two countries to bring to task those behind it, prompted me to write this book.
 
How long did the research take? Did you rely on your erstwhile reporting experience?

This book, I’d say, is the fruit of my 20 years of journalism. It took me about two years to complete the research and that was an experience in itself. Pondering on scenarios such as what were to happen if the yet-undiscovered RDX, from post the ’93 blast incident, were to land in the hands of terrorists propelled me to work hard on the book.

How difficult is it to write a thriller? Do you change the plot as you write, or do you have a fixed plan in mind?

I’m more at home writing non-fiction, given my journalistic background, so writing thrillers is actually hard work for me but one that I enjoy as well. The process of writing draws you in, as I don’t work with any fixed plot but broad strokes and a skeleton in mind which then evolves as you flesh out the plot and the characters.

Which actors would you like to see in the lead roles if Eleventh Hour were to be made into a film?

I’d like to leave it to those more competent at it, like the film directors.
 
While writing, what techniques do you use to hold on the readers’ interest?

I like working with techniques also used by the Hollywood screenwriters. For example, ending each chapter with a cliffhanger, so that there’s enough intrigue in through the chapters to keep the reader hooked till the end.

Which part of the book was the most difficult to write? 

Of course the finale, as one has to assemble it all, tie up all the ends and resolve the conflict in a way that’s compelling to read. So bringing it all to a culmination is the challenge. I’m sure other authors would agree with me here.

Have you based your protagonist Vikrant’s character on anyone you know?

Vikrant’s character is actually a combination of several characters/people, I know. I took the best aspects of these people and wove it into Vikrant.

Who is your favourite author? Which book has inspired you?

I’d say Vikram Chandra and his book, Sacred Games. I like Ravi Subramanian’s books as well.

Which is your favourite from your books?

For a writer, all his books are like his children, so it is difficult to choose one over the other. But I must add that I do have a sentimental, nostalgic fondness for my first book — Black Friday.

What are you working on next?

My next is one of the most awaited projects of my non-fiction series. It is about the man who was the mentor of Dawood Ibrahim. He came to Mumbai, a little known person from Bhopal, met Dawood accidentally, became his friend and then trained him to be India’s most feared don.

What is more difficult — being a journalist or being an author?

Having been on both sides of the spectrum, I think being a journalist is more difficult. I think authors are people who don’t have to juggle with very many constraints and compulsions while writing. For example, they don’t have to be accountable to a boss, or don’t have to be factually accurate or specific all the time. A journalist, however, covering a daily beat, has a more demanding task at hand.

Would you like to dabble in any other genre in future?

After I’m done writing within the genre of crime then, maybe I’d like to try my hand at a different kind of a love story.

REMAINS OF THE DAY

Picking up nine years after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, S. Hussain Zaidi’s crime novel immediately immerses the reader into the dangerous politics of terrorism. Shifting between New Delhi, Bhopal and Lakshadweep, Zaidi blurs the lines between fact and fiction, taking inspiration from real events and dealing with prevalent issues — the strained relations between India and Pakistan, an undiscovered stash of RDX from the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, a prison escape, and the hijacking of an Indian cruise liner. 

At the forefront of the story is superintendent of police Vikrant Singh, who’s harbouring deep rage following the terror attacks of recent years and chooses to take it out on the high commissioner of Pakistan during his visit to India, his violent act of passion resulting in his suspension from his post. However, when five members of the Indian Mujahideen escape from the jail where Vikrant had locked them away years ago, he is unofficially called in to assist the team tracking the escaped terrorists. 

Meanwhile, 30 passengers set aboard a cruise liner from Mumbai, each with different hopes and expectations for their trip, but when disaster strikes, everyone is left questioning if they’ll even survive their holiday. Zaidi wastes no time getting into the action as his fast-paced thriller continuously intertwines different characters and storylines to create an unpredictable novel that keeps one hooked from start to finish.

Emma Thomson
(A student of University of Glasgow who is interning with t2)